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Asbestos in the Attic?
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We have insulation that
is coming loose behind the eaves of our cape built in 1937. Our home inspector
called it "something" wool and said we should have it tested before
disturbing it. Are you familiar with any of this type of insulation and if it
contains asbestos? |
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Here are the three most common
types of thermal insulation that have "wool" in the title:
Rock wool is made from mineral
fibers manufactured from waste from mining and volcanic rock. The materials are
melted in furnaces and blown with air or steam over spinning drums or a
centrifuge to create the fibers (picture making cotton candy).
Slag wool is made by the same precess from fibers created from
blast furnace slag. |
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The above are generically
referred to as mineral wool and since they are man-made fibers,
they do not contain asbestos (asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber). I've
read about mineral wool, asbestos and resins mixed together to manufacture a
couple specific industrial insulating products for process equipment, but it's
not the kind of stuff used for residential insulation.
Balsam wool is a shredded wood product, treated with borax as a
fire-retardant. It's considered a very natural product and also is not known to
contain asbestos.
Text & Images ©2007 Wm. Kibbel
III
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Bill Kibbel is an experienced
historic building consultant and
inspector in
southeastern PA & central NJ. |
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